The case concerns journalist Zhu Ruifeng who has reportedly got his hands on a sex tape featuring Communist Party politician Lei Zhengfu and an 18-year-old woman, who planned to use the tape as part of a blackmail rouse. It was allegedly all covered up (though not with much success, obviously) by party secretary Bo Xilai, remember him?

"President Obama and the rest of our country's politicians have pledged to slow China's rise to the top of the world, and now they know they have to do: sex tapes," advises Gawker's Jordan Sargent. "It's the harsh truth. At the very least, bring back John Edwards and Bill Clinton. I'm sure they'll be glad to help out."

Now, the British are not a people generally given to boasting, but it does seem relevant to point out at this juncture that we invented political sex scandals (as well as "baseball" (see: cricket) and tea parties, of the Boston variety or otherwise). Though our Empire days may be behind us, if either present-day superpower can come up with anything to rival the sleazetastic excesses of John Major's mid-90s Cabinet, Independent Voices would surely like to hear about it.